Drives for textile machinery



Dec. 24, 1968 H. WOLF 3,411,561

DRIVES FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed March 51, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 24,1968 H. WOLF 3,417,561

I DRIVES FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed March 31. 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 35% lie I fi- 39 38 o g a? E i E United States Patent 3,417,561 DRIVES FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Horst Wolf, Albershausen, Germany, assignor to Zinser- Textilmaschinen Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Ebersbach (Fils), Germany, a company of Germany Filed Mar. 31, 1966, Ser. No. 539,009

Claims priority, application Germany, Apr. 1, 1965,

(Claims. (Cl. 57100) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A spinning machine drive provided with a main drive motor which can drive the machine at a slow speed and at a normal speed, an auxiliary motor which can drive the machine in slow motion, and an electric circuit arranged so that the machine can be driven by the auxiliary motor in slow motion in order to check its operation, and then the machine can be driven at slow speed by the main drive motor until a time relay in the electric circuit causes the machine to be driven at the normal speed after a predetermined length of time.

The present invention is concerned with drives for textile spinning mill machinery, and more particularly, though not exclusively, with preparatory spinning mill machinery such as cards, drafting devices and roving frames.

One particular object of the invention is to provide an electric motor drive which allows the textile machine in question to be driven slowly for checking its operation or for moving its working parts into a certain position in relation to each other.

According to the present invention there is provided a drive for a spinning machine comprising an auxiliary motor for driving the spinning machine in slow motion, a main drive motor having two driving speeds, at slow speed and a normal speed, and a switching device including at least one manually operable switch, a first control circuit for starting the auxiliary motor, a second control circuit for starting the main drive motor at the slow speed, and a delaying device arranged to automatically switch the main drive motor from the slow speed to the normal speed, said manually operable switch being arranged, on closing to actuate the first control and, on re-opening, to actuate the second control circuit to start the main drive motor at the slow speed and to actuate the delaying device whereby the main drive motor is automatically switched from the slow speed to the normal speed after a predetermined length of time.

Preferably, the second control circuit includes first switch means arranged to be opened when the first control circuit is actuated and arranged to be closed when the manually operable switch is re-opened so as to complete the second control circuit.

Preferably also, second switch means common to the fifst and second control circuits is provided and holding means are also provided, said second switch means being arranged to be closed upon operation of the manually operable switch in order to close said first and second control circuits, and said holding means being adapted to retain the second switch means in a closed position after opening of the manually operable switch so as to enable the auxiliary motor to remain in operation after the main drive motor has started.

Conveniently, theswitching device is provided with third switch means arranged to be actuated by the second control circuit for starting the main drive motor at the slow speed, said third switch means being arranged to be operated when the manually operable switch is returned from its closed to its open position.

As a further preferred feature of the invention, the auxiliary motor is arranged to rotate the main motor when the auxiliary motor is turning the machine, preferably through a free-wheel coupling. Owing to these features, the auxiliary motor can be used to start the main motor, that is to say, start it rotating during the first stage of speeding up the machine to the normal running speed. Thus, in accordance with a preferred arrangement, the auxiliary motor can be connected with the machine through the main rotor shaft of the main drive motor; alternatively, both the main and the auxiliary motors can be connected in parallel with the machine.

Though a roving frame is now described as a specific embodiment of the invention to enable the invention to be completely understood, it is to be made clear that the invention is applicable to other textile machines, for instance drafting devices, combing machines and other spinning machinery.

FIGURE 1 shows the arrangement of motors used in the invention together with the free-wheel coupling.

FIGURE 2 shows a preferred form of free-wheel coupling.

FIGURE 3 is a circuit diagram of part of the drive mechanism.

FIGURE 4 shows the electrical connections of the motors.

The roving frame shown in FIGURE 1 is of conventional construction and comprises flyers 10, bobbins 11, supports 12 and 13 respectively for the bobbins and fiyers, and drafting devices 14. Owing to their conventional construction these parts are not described any further.

The main drive motor 17 for the roving frame is arranged in the lower part of the frame 15. On one end of the main rotor shaft 18 of the motor 17 there is a pulley 20 connected by a belt 21 with a pulley 22 on the main drive shaft of the frame. This latter shaft (which is not shown) is connected with gear box 23 which causes the parts of the frame to be driven at their different speeds.

Also provided is an auxiliary motor 25 for driving the roving frame at a slow speed, for instance for examining its operation or for moving its working parts into a certain position.

The auxiliary motor 25 is preferably (as shown) mounted on a support over the main motor '17 so that it can drive by means of a belt 26 a pulley arranged on the end of the motor 17. The pulley 27 coupled with the shaft end 19 by means of a free-wheel coupling 29, of conventional construction, having rollers as shown.

Alternatively the pulley 27 can be arranged with its free-wheel coupling on the other end 18 of the main motor shaft.

The velocity ratio of the pulley drive connecting the motor 25 with the shaft end 19 is such (e.g. 5:1) that when this motor runs at its normal speed, the roving frame is turned over at a slow speed suitable for examining its operation or moving it into a certain position of rotation.

In a possible further arrangement, shown in broken lines in FIGURE 1, the auxiliary motor 25 is connected by gear wheels 27 and 27" and a free-wheel coupling (not shown) with the main drive shaft of the roving frame instead of being connected through the rotor shaft of the main motor. Moreover, the drive can include V-belts and friction gears instead of the components actually shown.

The preferred form of control circuit of the drive for the roving frame is, as shown in FIGURE 3, fed at 31 by a source of current and comprises two main conductors 32 and 33. Several push button switches 35 are connected parallel with each other for operation of a relay 36 and serve for switching on. A further relay 39 for switching off is arranged to be operated by several push button switches 38 connected in parallel. A relay 42 for causing the roving frame to be operated at a low speed is arranged to be operated by pressing any one of a series of parallelconnected button switches 41. A number of easily accessible housings are arranged at various positions on the roving frame and each of them is provided with one of the button switches 35, 38 and 41.

A further relay 45 and an adjustable delay relay 46 are connected in parallel in a further part of the circuit and are both connected in series with pairs of contacts 49, 50 and 51. Relay 36 is arranged to open contacts 49, and relay 42 contacts 50. Relay 45 is arranged to operate contacts 52 which are connected in parallel with the contacts 49 and 50.

In a further part of the circuit there is a relay 54 and pair of contacts 56 arranged to close by the relay 42. The time relay 46 is arranged to open contacts 57. A conductor 59 connects the pairs of contacts 51 and 56 together.

The circuit also comprises a relay 60 and, connected in series with it, a pair of contacts 62 arranged to be operated by the relay 54.

A relay 64 is connected in series with two pairs of contacts, the one 66 being operated by relay 39 and the other 67, being operated by relay 36. The pair of contacts 67 is connected in parallel with a pair of contacts 68 operated by the relay 64. The relay 64 operates also the contacts 51 circuit with the relays 45 and 46.

As can be seen from FIGURE 4, the main drive motor 17 of the roving frame is connected via a three-pole switch 70 to the three-phase main 72. In the conductor of of one phase 73 there is a resistance 75, which can be shorted by a pair of contacts 76. The switch 70 is operated by the relay 45 shown in FIGURE 3 and the contacts 76 are operated by relay 60.

The auxiliary motor 25 of the roving frame can be connected with the three-phase main 72 by means of a threepole switch 80 actuated by the relay 54.

If one of the push buttons 41 is operated to run the frame at the slow speed, the relay 42 is actuated and opens the contacts 50 and closes the contacts 56 so that the relay 54 is actuated and closes the switch 80 of the auxiliary mot-or 25 and opens the contacts 62.

The auxiliary motor 25 starts and drives the roving frame slowly through the belt transmission and the freewheel 29. This drive continues as long as one of the push button switches 41 is pressed. When it is released the switches and relays are moved back into their initial condition and the frame stops.

If one of the on push button switches 35 is actuated, the relay 36 responds and opens the contacts 49 and closes the contacts 67, thus operating relay 64 which locks itself in the closed position since it closes the contacts 68. It also closes the contacts 51 so that the relay 54 is supplied with current via conductor 59 and switches on the auxiliary motor 25 which continues to run as long as one of the switches 35 is depressed.

When the switch 35 is released, the relay 36 returns to its original condition, opens the contacts 67 and closes contacts 49. However, the relay 64 remains actuated by current from contacts 68, even though the contacts 67 are opened. Owing to the closure of the contacts 49 the relay 45 and the time delay 46 are actuated since the contacts 51 are kept closed by the relay 64.

The relay 45 closes the switch 70 of the main motor 17, which starts gently since the resistance 75 in the motor supply lead is not yet shorted by the switch 76. The energized relay 54 holds the contacts 62 open so that the relay 60 cannot open the contacts 76. Only when the time delay relay 46 runs through its preset delay time and opens the contacts 57, does the relay cease to be energized and in consequence the contacts 62 are closed, the relay 60 responds and closes the contacts 76 which now short the resistance 75 and cause the motor 17 to be speeded fully. Instead of the devices actually described for bringing about a gentle start of the motor, it is possible to use other expedients for achieving the same end; for example the motor can be a star-delta motor which is started with the star system of connection.

The disconnection of the relay 54 also causes the switch 80 of the motor 25 to be opened and the motor stops.

On operating one of the off switches 38, the relay 39 is put in circuit and opens the contacts 66 so that relay 64 is de-energized and opens the contacts 68 and 51. The latter pair of contacts disconnect the relay 45 which opens the switch 70 of the motor 17 and the frame stops.

As long as one of the slow switches 41 is depressed, the frame continues to turn over slowly and stops when the switch is released.

The frame also continues to run slowly as long as one of the on switches 35 is depressed and the frame only runs up to its normal working speed when the switch is released.

Since it is not desired that normal operation of the roving frame should be interrupted by pressing one of the on switches 35 or the switches 41 for slow running, the relay 45 is arranged to operate the contacts 52 in parallel with the contacts 49 and 50. If this method of operation should not be desired, the contacts 52 with their connections can be dispensed with.

The control circuit described ensures that the main motor is only switched on when both it and the roving frame have reached the slow running speed. The main motor therefore only has to speed up from the slow speed to its own operational speed, thus reducing the likelihood of overheating of the main motor.

There is also the advantage that the roving frame can be run at slow speed as long and as often as desired without either of the motors being overheated.

I claim:

1. A drive for a spinning machine comprising an auxiliary motor 25 for driving the spinning machine in slow motion, a main drive motor 17 having two driving speeds, a slow speed and a normal speed, and a switching device including at least one manually operable switch 35, a first control circuit 36, 67, 64, 51, 54 for starting the auxiliary motor 25, a second control circuit 45, 49 for starting the main drive motor 17 at the slow speed, and a delaying device 46 arranged to automatically switch the main drive motor 17 from the slow speed to the normal speed, said manually operable switch 35 being arranged, on'closing, to actuate the first control circuit 36, 67, 64, 51, 54 and, on re-opening, to actuate the second control circuit 45, 49 to start the main drive motor 17 at the slow speed and to actuate the delaying device 46 whereby the main drive motor 17 is automatically switched from the slow speed to the normal speed after a predetermined length of time.

2. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second control circuit 45, 49 includes first switch means 49 arranged to be opened when the first control circuit 36, 67, 64, 51, 54 is actuated and arranged to be closed when the manually operable switch 35 is re-opened so as to complete the second control circuit 45, 49.

3. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein second switch means 51 common to the first and second control circuits is provided and holding means 64, 68 are also provided, said second switch means 51 being arranged to be closed upon operation of the manually operable switch 35 in order to close said first and second control circuits, and said holding means 64, 68 being adapted to retain the second switch means 51 in a closed position after opening of the manually operable switch 35 so as to enable the auxiliary motor 25 to remain in operation after the main drive motor 17 has started.

4. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device is provided with third switch means 70 arranged to be actuated by the second control circuit 45, 49 for starting the main drive motor 17 at the slow speed, said third switch means 70 being arranged to be operated when the manually operable switch 35 is returned from its closed to its open position.

5. A drive as claimed in claim 4, wherein fourth switch means 76 are provided for switching over from the slow speed to the normal speed and vice versa, and wherein the third switch means 70 is arranged to complete the circuit to the main drive motor 17 during operation of the main drive motor 17 at the normal speed.

6. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein fifth switch means 49 and a thrid control circuit incorporating the delaying device 46 are provided, said fifth switch means 49 being arranged to be closed upon re-opening of the manually operable switch 35 so as to actuate the said third control circuit.

7. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device is provided with at least one isolated switch 38 for stopping the drive.

8. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the switching device is provided with at least one switch 41 for starting the auxiliary motor 25, said switch 41 being so 6 arranged that, upon opening, the auxiliary motor 25 is stopped without starting the main drive motor 17.

9. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second control circuit 45, 49 is provided with contacts 52 arranged to be permanently closed when the second control circuit is actuated.

10. A drive as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delaying device 46 is a time relay 46.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 747,236 12/ 1903 Schaefer 318-91 X 2,571,801 10/1951 Wangerin et al 3l8-91 2,653,283 9/1953 Feldhausen 31891 X 3,325,985 6/1967 Bucher 5793 FOREIGN PATENTS 716,704 10/ 1954 Great Britain.

716,705 10/1954 Great Britain.

805,341 12/ 1958 Great Britain.

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 310-91 

